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AUGUST 2010 | Bay Area Houston Magazine
31
L E A DI NG
A N D
I N F OR M I NG
O U R
C OM MU N I T Y
Find us on
Facebook
Au g u s t 2 0 1 0
DR. SAQIB SIDDIQUI M.D.
Minimally Disruptive Surgery Finds a
New Home in Clear Lake. Page 35
WOMEN OF DISTINCTION
Outstanding Women of Our Community.
Page 26
THE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR
This Piece of History Belongs to Texas. Page 7
GALVESTON ISLAND
Come See What the Island Has
to Offer. Page 20
August 2010
features
14
ON THE COVER
Dr. Saqib Siddqui of The Spine Center, now opening
in Clear Lake. See story on page 35. Photo by Brian
Stewart.
24
President/CEO
Rick Clapp
Executive Vice President
Rob Kumar
Creative Director
Brandon Rowan
Sales & Marketing
Patty Bederka
Mary Callier
Carolina Chavez
Judy Gaines
Patty Kane
Amber Sample
29
35
6
13
CLICK! Salute to Heroes Reception
15
FINANCIAL FOCUS: TOD Agreement Can
Reduce Hassle for Heirs
17
European Wax Center of League City
20
The Galveston Economic Partnership
24
The San Luis Hotel & Resort: A Luxurious
Vacation Destination in Our Own Backyard
26
Local Media Women Excel: Lynda Guidry,
Rebecca Collins and Pat Patton
27
Lisa Wink: Spokeswoman Extraordinaire for Ron Carter Toyota
28
Debi Sullivan and Cathy Wortham: The Women of Glass Mermaids
29
Alma Gonzalez: Restaurateur and Woman of Distinction
30
Josie Barcenas: Barcenas Real Estate
31
The Women of Texas First Bank
35
The Spine Center: Total Patient Care Under One Roof
37
CLICK! Bay Area Houston Magazine’s 10th
Anniversary Party
52
Pauline Reese Band to Headline Plugged-In
Music Festival
14
American Style: Ford Taurus and Chevy Traverse
In Wheel Time
16
Hormones & High Heels
18
The Things We Think About
44
Prime Time to Fish the Spoil Banks
Idea Divas
Texas Meditations
The Admiral’s Log
in each issue
Please address all correspondence
to:
Bay Area Houston Magazine
P.O. Box 1032
Seabrook, TX 77586
www.baygroupmagazines.com
[email protected]
281.474.5875
Dental Health with Dr. Noie: Use It or Lose It
columns
Photographer
Brian Stewart
Bay Area Houston Magazine is
produced monthly. All rights
reserved. Material may not
be reproduced by any means
whatsoever without written
permission. Advertising rates are
available upon request.
9
45
Bay Area Houston Magazine | AUGUST 2010
8
Advertiser’s Index
12
Main Events
38
Home Improvement Guide
44
Admiral’s Log
52
Our Donations
66
The Latest in NASA News
The Bay Area Satellite
www.baygroupmagazines.com
O N
M Y
M I N D
The Shuttle Endeavour Belongs to Texas
s we are now all aware, NASA will retire its fleet of space shuttles within
the next year. Furthermore, once NASA completes its last shuttle
mission, the three orbiters will be decommissioned and placed on
permanent display at select museums and science centers across the
country. The shuttle Endeavour belongs in Texas, specifically in Space
Center Houston, because it is a symbol of the Texas Spirit. The Texas
Spirit and Shuttle Endeavour represent freedom, discovery, adventure, and success.
The State of Texas was founded by pioneers, trail blazers, adventurers, risk-takers
and hard working people who overcame great obstacles to get here. Symbols really mean something to Texans and to all
Americans. Note the Statue of Liberty and what it means to New York, our nation and the many immigrants that came to
the Great Land.
Whether scientists, pro athletes, or rodeo cowboys, Texans take tremendous pride in dusting themselves off when they
have fallen and jumping back in the saddle. For example, we lost two shuttles (Challenger and Columbia) and many lives
during the 30-year program. The shuttle Columbia was lost over our state on its return from space. Houston, and especially
Bay Area Houston, suffered dearly because the mission began here and many of the crew lived here with their families and
were involved not only at Johnson Space Center but also in our community. The entire community grieved over the loss of
the Columbia crew but was resilient. NASA reloaded and got back to the manned space program.
The competition among cities wanting to become the homes of these great birds (Endeavour, Discovery, and Atlantis)
is going to be tough. I am sure politics and money will play a big part in the fight. We need your help to make sure one of
those symbols stays home in Texas. Community leaders like Bob Mitchell, President of the Bay Area Economic Partnership,
Cindy Harreld at the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, our Houston mayor, Anise Parker, political leaders Pete
Olson, Larry Taylor, Ken Clark, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Governor Rick Perry, former Houston mayor, Bill White, Judge
Jim Yarbrough, businessman Frank Gilebaard and others will work hard to keep it at Space Center Houston. We have the
business infrastructure to support the shuttle because we offer plenty of hotels, restaurants, and tourist support services for
visitors from around the world. In today’s world, merit is not always good enough and it may have a great deal to do with
money. I suggest we start a campaign to raise money immediately from the private sector: businesses, students, science clubs,
individual donations, etc. As Texans let’s be proactive to keep our shuttle here. I personally will donate $1,000 towards the
“Lonestar Spirit Fund” to get it started.
Please go to the website, www.bringtheshuttlehome.com for more information about the mission and rationale for Space
Center Houston as the right place for a retired shuttle. Executives from NASA and our local community leaders encourage
you to write your congressmen and Texas House of Representatives, but also other important and influential politicians from
other states. One of the major banks could set up the “Lonestar Spirit Fund” and help collect monies to pay for the shuttle to
remain here. We could hold fundraisers and concerts. This would also be awesome public relations for our area. Remember,
when adversity strikes or opportunity comes, Texans pull up their boot straps and go to work. If we really want it, let’s not
pass the buck or wait for the government to decide our shuttle’s destiny. Let us pass the hat and collect funds needed to show
our commitment is deep and true.
Be sure to check out our Baycast at GoBAHA.com, where we are always proud to support NASA, its aerospace
contractors and their families.
Don Armstrong
In Wheel Time
Mary Callier
Social Media
Michael Gos
Texas Meditations
Captain Joe Kent
Fishing
Betha Merit
Vicarious Vacations
Jill Michaels
NASA Column/Features
Pat Patton
Click
Kathleen Potter Wooldridge
Beauty, Etc.
Dr. Ed Reitman
Nourishing the Mind
Roseann Rogers
Lara Bell
Idea Divas
Kathleen Statham
Back Bay Barker
Paulette Vargas
Main Events
God Bless America,
Rick Clapp
President and CEO, the Bay Group Inc.
7
888 Asian Bistro
Advanced Weight Loss Center
Alan’s Seafood Market
Allstate Dana Philibert
AMOCO Federal Credit Union
Artistic Smiles
Backbay Boutique II
Bay Area Kitchens
Bay Area Observer
Bead Boutique
Bling Bling Shop
Bogan Gallery
Buccaneer
Cafe Under the Oaks
City of Dickinson
City of Kemah
City of La Porte
Clear Lake Community Center
Clearpoint Vision
Clothes Horse
Coastal Plastic Surgery
College of the Mainland
Cruz Clothiers
Cullen’s American Grille
D’vine Wine
Devereux
Digitex
Don Julio’s
Dr. J. Derek Tieken
Edward Jones/Mickey Maddox
European Wax Center
Fantasea
Fonderen Orthopedic
Freedom Boat Club
Ginger Snaps
GoBAHA.com
Guidry News Service
Gun Letterbed Frame
Harbour Insurance
Harbour Plastic Surgery
Head to Footsies
Holiday Inn
Holly Berry Tearoom
Island Furniture
J.Hilburn Clothiers
Ju Ju’s Beachwear
Karen’s Kloset
Las Haciendas
Loading Dock
Maggieritas
Martha Turner Properties
Mediterraneo Market & Cafe
Mommie Chic
Original Galveston Jewelry Box
Opus Bistro
Pamela Blackwood/Gary Greene
Park Place Antiques
Rene Wiley Studio Gallery
Rhapsody Solutions
Ron Carter Toyota
Salon La Rouge
San Luis Hotel & Resort
Seabrook Marina
South East Memorial Hermann
Southshore Grille
Spine Center
Star Toyota
Southwest International Boat Show
Stylin’ With Linda
Sundance Grille Sweetspot Audio
Texas Bay Area Credit Union
Texas Citizens Bank
Texas First Bank
The Firm
The Front Parlor
The Teak Store
Tina’s On The Strand
Tuscan Lakes
Unicare Dental
UTMB
Visiting Angels
Wayne Wade/Remax
Witchery
8
Page 19
www.888chineserestaurant.com
Page 15
www.letslose.com
Page 45
www.wholesaleseafoodmarket.com
Page 34
www.allstateagencies.com
Page 52 & 53
www.amocofcu.org
Page 36
www.artisticsmiles4u.com
Page 23
Page 42
www.bayareakitchens.com
Page 54
www.bayareaobserver.com
Page 62
www.beadsontheboulevard.com
Page 16
Page 22
www.bogangallery.com
Page 39
www.buccaneerconstruction.com
Page 59
Page 56
www.ci.dickinson.tx.us
Page 51, 54, 64
www.kemah-tx.gov
Page 62
www.ci.la-porte.tx.us
Page 58
www.clcca.org
Page 57
Page 59
Page 32
www.tadammd.com
Page 56
www.com.edu
Page 21
www.cruzcortezclothiers.2get2u.com
Page 4
www.cullenshouston.com
Page 57
www.kemah.dvinewineusa.com/
Page 49
www.divotsfordevereux.com
Page 64
www.digitexcorp.com
Page 61
www.donjuliosmexicanrestaurantandcantina.com
Page 33
www.tiekensmiles.com
Page 15
www.edwardjones.com
Page 17
www.waxcenter.com
Page 44
www.thebigwhiteboat.com
Page 2
www.fondren.com
Page 47
www.freedomboatclub.com
Page 59
Page 5
www.GoBAHA.com
Page 58
www.guidrynews.com
Page 38
Page 36
www.myharbourinsurance.com
Page 18
www.harbourplasticsurgery.com
Page 23
www.headtofootsies.com
Page 57
www.holidayinn.com
Page 59
www.hollyberrytearoom.com
Page 42
www.islandfurniture.net
Page 14
www.jhilburn.com
Page 16
www.jujusbeachwear.com
Page 21
www.galveston.com/karenskloset
Page 63
www.lashaciendasgrill.com
Page 24
www.galveston.com/theloadingdock
Page 24
Page 41
www.marthaturner.com
Page 56
www.mediterraneomarket.com
Page 59
www.mommie-chic.com
Page 23
Page 14
www.opusbistro.net
Page 39
www.pamelablackwood.us.com
Page 59
Page 22
www.renewileyart.com
Page 65
www.rhapsodysolutions.net/
Page 67
www.roncartertoyota.com
Page 63
http://salonlarouge.org
Page 25
www.sanluisresort.com
Page 44
www.seabrookshipyard.com
Page 10
www.memorialhermann.org
Page 65
www.soshoregrille.com
Page 34
www.texasspinecenter.com
Page 11
www.startoyota.com
Page 45
www.southwestinternationalboatshow.com
Page 36
Page 43
www.sundance-grill.net
Page 43
Page 3
www.tbacu.org
Page 63
www.texascitizensbank.com
Page 55
www.texasfirstbank.com
Page 22
www.galveston.com/thefirm
Page 23
www.frontparlorgalveston.com
Page 21
www.galveston.com/teakstore
Page 21
www.tinasonthestrand.com
Page 40
www.tuscanlakes.com
Page 68
www.drnoie.com
Page 50
www.utmb.edu
Page 58
www.visitingangels.com
Page 39
www.spacecityhomes.com
Page 22
www.witcheryonline.com
What do these symbols mean?
In this, and future issues, you will find these symbols associated
with adver tisers, organizations and events featured in this
publication. When you see one of these symbols go to the
respective Web site and search for more information on the
group or event.
What is Social Media/Networking?
Social media are any number of Web sites that revolve around
interaction between businesses, celebrities and individuals. Social
media provides immediate real time news feeds and information,
as well as oppor tunities for feedback and discussion. We have
listed the three most popular social networking Web sites but
there are many more online. We strongly encourage businesses
and organizations to join one of the sites listed above. They are
free to join, easy to operate and provide an outlet to broadcast
press releases, ideas and information that consumers can receive
instantly. Traditional media is a one way dialogue. Social media is a
two way, back and for th exchange that is revolutionizing the way
we interact and collect information.
U
nfortunately all three options led to either grinding healthy
teeth down or exerting too much force on the remaining
teeth. All options, over time, led to early loss of remaining
teeth. As a result, a large segment of the population went
through old age with false teeth or no teeth at all.
This expectation has changed substantially during the last decade.
The likelihood of losing our teeth with aging is steadily decreasing. There
are several reasons for this change: improved nutrition, better access to
dental care, and last, but not least, the introduction of dental implants.
When teeth are lost, chewing is greatly hindered, and speaking
becomes a challenge. The face looks dramatically different without the
support teeth. Also, people who have lost some or all of their teeth
tend to eat softer foods. A soft food diet is usually high in carbohydrates
and fat but very low in protein, raw vegetables, vitamins, and minerals.
Foods that are high in protein, vitamins, and minerals, such as meats,
poultry, grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables, tend to be harder to
chew. Consequently, people who eat mainly soft foods may become
malnourished. Eating soft, high-carb foods all the time also leads to
weight gain and obesity, which often leads to numerous disorders,
including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Partial or full dentures are a less expensive alternative to dental
implants. However dentures require a lot of care. They must be kept
clean. They should be removed every night before going to sleep,
cleaned carefully, and kept in a moist safe place (usually in a glass of
water on the bed stand). The shape of the mouth changes due to bone loss
over time. When that happens, the dentures have to be refitted or remade.
Dentures can also cause
discomfort and interfere with
tasting. If dentures do not fit well,
they can interfere with chewing and
swallowing. They may also cause
burning sensations and sores in the
mouth. Some people find dentures
embarrassing.
The worst consequence of
wearing dental bridges, partial or
full-dentures is gradual loss of jaw
bone due to lack of stimulation.
Many patients who have lost
one or more teeth believe the
personal impact is strictly cosmetic.
However, just one missing tooth
can lead to significant bone loss
over time that can alter the jaw
structure, cause other teeth to shift
and change the shape of your face.
“The worst consequence of wearing
dental bridges, partial or full-dentures
is gradual loss of jaw bone due to lack
of stimulation.”
Fortunately, America’s tooth and jaw bone loss crisis can be eliminated
with dental implants, now considered the best option for replacing missing
teeth. Dental implants have been highly successful, according to recent research published in the Journal of Oral Implantology. There is a growing body
of compelling clinical evidence supporting dental implants as the most successful method for replacing missing or compromised teeth. If you are suffering from, or embarrassed by, the loss of one, several, or all
of your teeth, dental implants may be the answer you are looking for. I have
been placing dental implants (while my patients are in an intravenous-induced
sleep) in our community for over a decade with a success ratio of over 98.6
percent. If you are considering getting a dental implant, please contact my office at 281-332-4700 and schedule a complimentary consultation to find out
how dental implants can improve the quality of your life.
9
By Paulette Vargas
Bay Area Houston
• Don’t forget to shop tax free at Baybrook Mall or Pearland Town Center on August 20-21. The
state’s annual tax holiday lets Texas shoppers get a break from state and local taxes. For times and more
information, visit www.pearlandtowncenter.com or http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/
tx98_490/tx98_490_list.html.
Galveston
• Learn to surf or improve your surfing skills this summer during Ohana’s 5-Day camp held August 2-6.
For registration and location information visit www.galveston.com or call (409) 763-2700.
• Kids ages 4 through 6, do not miss Galveston Ballet’s Fairy Tale Camp on August 4. For details click to
www.galveston.com or call (409) 763-8620
• The Galveston Park Board, Mitchell Historic Properties and HDSSP Present: Music Nite On the
Strand, August 14. Catch the sounds of the “Electric Blues Crew” from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at 23rd and
Strand. Visit www.galveston.com for details.
• Movie Nite On the Strand continues on August 7 with “Footloose”. Make it out to 23rd and Strand by
dusk to catch the movie. Visit www.galveston.com for information.
Kemah
• Enjoy 10 nights of the Laser Show Spectacular from the Plaza at the Kemah Boardwalk August 6-15.
Shows start at 9:30 p.m. Go online to www kemahboardwalk.com or call 281-334-9880 for information.
Enjoy the rhythms of Salsa and Latin Jazz at the 3rd Annual Salsa on the Boardwalk, August 7. Check
www.kemahboardwalk.com for full event details.
La Porte
• The Plaza by the Bay Summer Concert Series continues on August 6 and August 20 with performances
by Dena Blue and the Bluejazz Band and George Ducas. All concerts are free and open to the public.
Shows start at 6:00 p.m.
League City
• Join the League City Chamber and the community at the Kick-Off by the Creek luncheon pep rally on
August 17. This marks start of the Texas High School football season. For more information or to purchase
tickets visit the League City Chamber of Commerce at www.leaguecitychamber.com, email them at
[email protected] or call 281-338-7339.
• Enjoy a family movie on August 7 at the League City Park Plaza starting at 7:00 p.m. Feel free to bring
your lawn chairs and popcorn. Contact William at 281-554-1195 for event information.
• Concerts in the Park continue on August 14 with a performance by the Jubilee Banjo Band at the League
City Park Plaza starting at 7:00 p.m. Feel free to bring your lawn chairs and soft drinks. Call or email
William for more information at 281-554-1195 or [email protected]
Pearland
• Pearland Town Center and KB HOME present Movie Night at the Pavilion. “The Twilight Saga:
New Moon” will be on August 7 at 7:30 p.m. It is open to the public with free admission. Bring
your lawn chairs or blankets. On August 20, don’t miss “Furry Vengeance” at 7:30 p.m. Visit www.
pearlandtwoncenter.com for event details.
• You can find live music featuring the Zach Tate Band on August 7 at 4:00 p.m. and the Level One Band
on August 21 at the Pearland Town Center’s Event Pavilion. Live entertainment is free and open to the
public. For event details, click on www.pearlandtowncenter.com
Seabrook
• Come out to the 1st Annual Seabrook Saltwater Derby Fishing Tournament, October 1. Entry forms
available at Outriggers (101 Bath Street in Seabrook) or email [email protected] for more information.
12
CCISD JROTC
students and
Ann Hacker.
Deborah Hutchinson,
Brian Bloomfield, Michael
Hutchinson, Haleigh
Mistry, Scott Longmore,
Shannon Matis and Skyler
Kay Yancey.
Presentation
of Colors by
the U.S. Army
Recruiting
BattalionHouston.
Auctioneer
Galveston
County Judge
Jim Yarbrough
and Chuck
Schneider,
Associate
Pastor at
Sagemont
Church.
Rew Daniel
and Terri
Zimmermann Lt. Colonel US
Marine Corps
Reserves.
Rick Clapp
and Roseann
Rogers of
Channel 55
(KTBU TV).
Frank Law,
winner
of the
Vermont
Getaway.
Navy
Chief E7
Daniel
Lambert
and wife
Laura.
Mickey Rehak and
Pat Patton.
Salute to Heroes Reception VI
The Ray Joseph Hutchinson Foundation’s 6th Annual Salute to Heroes
(STH) reception, on June 24 at the South Shore Harbour Hotel, was an incredible
success! It is a patriotic and heartfelt event that shows appreciation and gratitude
to those who have served, or are serving in our armed forces. The room was
packed, and it was great seeing so many military guests.
Chuck Schneider, the associate pastor at Sagemont Church was wonderful
as the master of ceremonies. The consummate auctioneer, Galveston County
Judge Jim Yarbrough, was, as always, excellent and Heather Fischer, community
development coordinator for Hope Village helped him with the live auction.
Ann Hacker of Black Rose Steel was in charge of both the live and silent
auctions, and had some great JROTC students from the Clear Creek High School
helping her. The event underwriter for the 6th annual Salute to Heroes reception
was Mickey Wooten, owner of the South Shore Grille.
The highlights of the evening were the speeches by the 2010 Ray Joseph
Hutchinson Foundation scholarship winners. Over $90,000.00 has been awarded
through new and renewed scholarships to date.
An unforgettable event was the POW /Missing Man presentation by
Ellington’s 147th Reconnaissance Wing Base Honor Guard which was narrated by
Chuck Schneider. The presentation of colors and the retirement of colors were
conducted by the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion- Houston.
The most touching part of the evening was a beautiful video tribute to
Ray Joseph Hutchinson. The ending of the video showed the legacy of Ray
Joseph’s life with photos of all the Ray Joseph Hutchinson Foundation’s CCISD
scholarship winners.
This is one of my favorite events. My father, Victor Sklar, and my oldest
brother, Gene, retired from the Air Force, and my husband, Dick, was a major in
the Army, so this event is very special and meaningful to me.
Roseann Rogers of Channel 55 did a wonderful job with her interviews for
Bay Area Houston Alive Baycast (www.GoBAHA.com).
Salute to Heroes VII will be held on June 23, 2011. For more information,
please call 281-750-0068. The Ray Joseph Hutchinson Foundation Web site is
www.rjhfoundation.org.
CLICK is sponsored by Dana Doncaster of J. Hilburn Clothing. Luxurious
tailored clothing at boldly lower prices. [email protected].
Dr. Greg Smith,
Superintendent
of CCISD
Schools, with
his wife Kathy.
Casey Clemen of
the CCISD JROTC
at the Auction Table.
Georgia Way by the auction table.
BAHM
Creative
Director
Brandon
Rowan
and Katie
Muccitelli.
Ellington’s 147th
Reconnaissance Wing
Base Honor Guard
i n wheel t i m e
by D o n A r m st ro n g
AMERICAN STYLE
Ford Taurus
We haven’t gotten this excited about a new car in a long time. The all-new
Ford Taurus is showing the world that an American carmaker can still build a
good-looking, high quality sedan that can compete on the global stage.
The 2011 Taurus is a full-size sedan that offers plenty of room for a family of
5 and enough trunk space to haul all of their luggage.
The sleek exterior styling is quite impressive. A new variation of Ford’s 3-bar
grille, recessed parking lamps and aggressively-styled air inlets highlight the front
fascia.
The Taurus’ well-appointed interior is a variation of the dual-cockpit styling
that Ford is famous for. Seating is comfortable and accommodating and the Sync
system is absolutely the best driver/car interface in any vehicle.
The SE, SEL and Limited come standard with a 3.5-liter V-6 that delivers
263 horsepower to the front wheels, while the twin turbo SHO model cranks out
a whopping 365 horses. A 6-speed automatic is standard on all models and allwheel drive is offered on the all but the SE.
Pricing starts at $25,170. BMW and Mercedes take note; the Taurus is a
serious contender.
Chevrolet Traverse
Heading into its third
year of production, sales of
the Chevy Traverse continue
to grow, and for good reason,
this is one competent hauler.
The Chevy Traverse is
big. This full-size crossover
can seat up to 8, and with the
middle and rear seats stowed,
has 117.9 cubic feet of cargo
space.
On a recent trip to the hill country, our all-wheel drive model handled
everything that was thrown at it including muddy roads, steep, rocky terrain and
gobs of freeway miles, all the while toting four adults and three teenagers in air
conditioned comfort.
It took several attempts to figure out how the middle seats slid forward to
allow access to the third row. Once that was accomplished, we became pros.
Power comes from 3.6-liter V-6 that delivers 281 horses to either the front or
all-wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission. The front drive version gets
17 MPG-city and 24-highway, 1-mpg less for AWD.
The Traverse comes in three trim levels, LS, LT and LTZ with entry-level LS
pricing starting at $29,224.
Could good looks, decent fuel mileage and comparable attributes derail sales
of its truck-based cousin, Suburban? Probably not, but for most of us, towing
capacity isn’t everything and neither is a truck-based body-on-frame heavyweight.
14
FINANCIAL FOCUS
TOD Agreement Can Reduce Hassles for Heirs
A
mong the reasons you work hard all your life may be so you can leave
something to your children, grandchildren or other family members. So,
naturally, you’d like to make it as easy as possible for your heirs to take
possession of those assets you want them to have. And that’s why you may want to
consider establishing a Transfer on Death (TOD) agreement on certain accounts.
Once you’ve established a TOD agreement for your account, ownership of the
assets held in that account pass directly to the designated beneficiaries, bypassing
probate. Why is this important? Because probate has three major drawbacks:
* It’s time-consuming. If your estate has to go through the probate process, it
could easily take a year or more for your assets to be distributed to your heirs.
* It’s expensive. Attorney and court fees could devour up to 5% of your estate’s
value — which means fewer assets going to your loved ones.
* It’s public. The probate process is open to everyone. This means anyone can
obtain a copy of your will, the names and contact information for your heirs, the
inventory of assets and other documents filed as part of the probate proceeding.
As you can see, you’ve got some good reasons to avoid probate — and a TOD
agreement can help. Of course, a TOD agreement can’t meet all your estate-planning
needs. While it may be particularly useful in helping you bequeath specific financial
assets, such as stocks, bonds and other assets held in your brokerage accounts, it can’t
help you deal with estate taxes or address other complex estate-planning issues.
And that’s why you also may want to consider creating other estate-planning
tools, such as a revocable living trust. Similar to a TOD agreement, a revocable
living trust allows you to leave assets to your heirs without going through probate.
Furthermore, when you set up a revocable living trust, you can control your assets
during your lifetime and determine how they will eventually be distributed to
your heirs. You could, for example, have money distributed to your children or
grandchildren in installments, over a period of years. Many people like having this
ability, especially if they are unsure of the money management skills or maturity level
of their heirs. Plus, a properly established revocable living trust will carry out your
wishes if you become incapacitated. Be sure to consult with your legal advisor to see if
a revocable living trust is appropriate for you.
While a TOD agreement can’t take the place of all estate-planning tools, it can
complement them. And a TOD agreement offers another feature that can prove
valuable: flexibility. Specifically, you can revoke or modify your TOD agreement at
any time in response to changes in your life or family circumstances.
To determine if a TOD agreement is appropriate for your needs, contact your
tax advisor or legal professional. Your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor can assist
you with applying a TOD agreement to your account. It’s taken you many years to
accumulate your assets, so take some time to help ensure they end up where you want
them to go.
15
idea d i va s
by Ro s e a n n Ro gers & L a ra B e l l
Hormones & High Heels
W
omen everywhere are still buzzing about the recent release of
Sex and the City 2. But it’s not just the couture clothes they’re
talking about! What women are more interested in is the topic
of bioidentical hormones. In the movie, Kim Cattrall’s character,
Samantha Jones, experiences emotional ups and downs as her hormones are
changing. And she’s not alone. The movie makes light of the situation, however for
lots of women this is no laughing matter.
As modern women age they are desperately trying to figure out why they are
feeling so poorly. Prior generations have faced aging quietly, but that is no longer
the case. Physicians now know that unbalanced or declining hormones cause a
once-vital female to lose her zest for life. From puberty until menopause, hormone
levels can fluctuate dramatically.
New but increasing amounts of research have linked many of the symptoms to
loss of global hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, DHEA and testosterone.
Modern day women, just like Samantha, are particularly eager to find a
healthy medical solution. Although these symptoms and sufferings are not any
worse than those experienced by our mothers and grandmothers, there has simply
been a change in attitude about living with them.
Dr. Dian Ginsberg and Dr. Lauren Ta of Women’s Specialty Healthcare have
seen dramatic improvements in their patients’ lives through the supervised use
of bioidentical hormones. This natural hormone blend, generally applied as a
gentle cream, not only alleviates unpleasant symptoms but actually restores that
youthful feeling.
As OB/GYN physicians, they can customize the dose and delivery method
to each patient’s individual needs. Whether it’s hot flashes, mood swings or even
fatigue, symptoms can be controlled and you can feel like yourself again.
The human body is a finely tuned biological machine in which all the parts
are designed to work together in perfect harmony. Aging clearly has its affect
on us. Although nothing can make us young again and there is no fountain
of youth, restoring hormones to more youthful levels, along with appropriate
nutritional supplements, can bring about remarkable improvements in how
young a woman feels, how well her mind and body function and how long she
lives.
For more information, visit www.womensspecialityhealthcare.com. Also
remember to check out the GoBAHA.com Baycast for more Roseann Rogers.
16
European Wax Center Offers Pain-Free Pampering
by D i a n a No r t h
I
f anyone asks Mary Headberg what’s so special
about European Wax Centers, including the
one she owns, she’ll tell you it’s that “people love
them!”
She’ll also say her center opened its doors April
19 of this year, and is the sixth EWC in the Houston
area, but the first in the Bay Area and southeast
Houston. Currently, it’s the 61st EWC in the country
with more than 123 franchises sold in the U.S. so far.
Specializing in quick, virtually painless and
breakout-free body waxing, the upscale center
located on the Gulf Freeway in League City’s Victory
Lakes Town Center offers 1500 square feet and six
treatment rooms.
The décor is inspired by French European
influences so each facility has an old-world appeal
designed to transport guests to their own private,
international, spa retreat.
However, Headberg says each facility has its own
personal flair.
She and her husband Mark co-own the center
and she runs it with the help and expertise of 10
employees.
Currently, the Brazilian Wax is the center’s top
seller. Headberg says the procedure garners “raves”
from guests. A four-step waxing process keeps a
specially prepared French wax from adhering to the
skin, which makes the treatment virtually pain-free. The center offers patented skin care products
that prevent post-waxing breakouts, minimize hair
growth and exfoliate skin between treatments.
“People also love our in-home skin care products,
especially our Ingrown Hair Serum which prevents
any bumps, breakouts or pimples after your wax
treatment,” Headberg said.
Service and customer satisfaction are the top
priority at the center.
“Guests can expect a friendly, pleasant, quick
and ‘great value for the money’ wax treatment every
time they visit our EWC,” Headberg said. Guests will also appreciate the convenience
of the seven-days-a-week scheduling with hours of
operation to accommodate even the most hectic work
weeks.
Amy Nusick of League City attended the grand
opening, met Headberg, (who she says “absolutely
lights up the room”) and has been back every four
to six weeks since. Nusick has received various
treatments and says the best thing about the center
is the quality of the service. “Plus I’ve never waited;
they are always on time when I get there, so I can go
during lunch and be back on time,” Nusick said.
Hanna Rounds of Friendswood says she’s referred
friends and co-workers and goes to the center herself
once a month. “It’s different from other places; the
treatments don’t hurt or stick; they’re refreshing and
clean,” Rounds said. “I can make an appointment and
never have to worry about waiting.”
New guests can request a free wax procedure
so they can try out the products and service—a
convincing way to sample the superior results.
Headberg says there are also ongoing specials for firsttime guests, such as a package of nine treatments that
includes three additional treatments free. A “refera-friend” program and completed surveys provide
discounts, as well.
“We see a very bright future for all EWCs,
especially ours,” said Headberg. “League City is a
great location for us with the friendliest people in the
world!”
European Wax Center
Victory Lakes Town Center
2810 Gulf Freeway South Suite C
League City, TX 77573
Phone: (281) 309-9929
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Monday ~ Friday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: noon to 6 p.m.
http://www.waxcenter.com
17
texas m e d i tat i o n s
by Michael Gos
THE THINGS WE THINK ABOUT
Vanderpool, Texas
Ask anyone who has driven all over
Texas what is the prettiest drive in the state
and you’ll probably get one of two answers:
either the River Road between Lajitas
and Presidio or highway 337 between
Medina and Leakey. While there may be
disagreement about which of the two is
more spectacular, virtually all will agree
that both are light years ahead of whatever
takes third place.
A popular stop between Medina and
Leakey is Vanderpool. Most people are
aware of it as the location of Lost Maples
State Park. The park is overrun with people
in October trying to catch a glimpse of the
maple trees in full fall color. It is a bit of
Vermont autumn, right here in Texas.
I don’t like crowds so I’ve never seen
the leaves change at Lost Maples. I go there on spring break in March, or in
mid-summer, when the crowds are down. And I never make a trip there without
stopping at the Lost Maples General Store. I like the old-timey feeling of any
general store and this one, located in the woods, away from all other development,
is one of my favorites.
On my last trip to the park, I had driven down from Fredricksburg and had
skipped breakfast to get an early start. By the time I reached Vanderpool, I was
18
hungry. I knew there would be no options
once I entered the park, so I stopped
at the store to get a bit of breakfast and
something to carry for lunch.
The store is a sprawling, one-story log
cabin right off the road that enters the park
and it is a destination in itself. I pulled
into the empty parking lot, took a few
minutes to enjoy the many hummingbirds
working the flowers and feeders around the
building, and then went in.
It is one of those places where the
aisles are few, but seem to go on forever. I
walked them all, checking out the cast iron
Dutch ovens, horse bridles and hot dog
buns. I didn’t buy any of that, but instead
chose what I wanted for the two meals I
needed, and then took my groceries up to
the counter to pay.
The old man who runs the store usually has a radio playing and on this day,
the news was on. There was a story about a study of happiness. The announcer
said the study had found that, of all demographic groups, men over 50 are the
happiest. Beyond that age, we continue to get happier with time.
My first reaction was “Duh!” Some group of researchers probably spent
millions in taxpayers’ money to discover the obvious. Isn’t that just like
government? Worse yet, they presented the findings about who was happiest, but
made no attempt to identify why men over 50 lead the
way.
I paid, stuffed the groceries into my daypack and
went back out to the jeep. I drove to the park and hit
the trailhead that would run me past the ponds.
I was probably a mile into the hike before the
news story came back into my mind. But now, things
didn’t seem quite so clear any more. I had assumed the
findings were intuitively obvious, but I never asked the
important question. Why is it obvious? What is it that
makes it so clear that we would be happier as we age?
There were three easy answers. By the time we
reach our fifties we tend to be better off financially, we
are more comfortable and secure in our careers and we
have usually found a good woman to spend our lives
with. It has been my experience that men who have
not accomplished the above are less happy than those
who have. Release anyone from the pressures that
insecurity in these three areas brings and the level of
happiness is bound to increase.
I felt smug because, having identified the causes
of happiness, my “findings” went beyond those of the
researchers. And I did it with little expenditure of time
and none of money. Impressed with myself, I got back
to the matter at hand, hiking Lost Maples State Park.
But like seeds, questions planted in our minds
continue to grow slowly and quietly, even while our
attentions are directed elsewhere, until they emerge
again as full-blown ideas. A couple of hours later,
when this one resurfaced, I knew that the three things
I had identified as what makes us happiest were not the
real causes—they were only markers, things we can see
and measure, things that indicate that the true cause
of happiness is present, but not the actual cause itself.
What is it that makes us more secure in work and
finances? What allows us to find, and hopefully keep,
that good woman? Whatever causes these things is the
true cause of our happiness.
I continued walking and apparently my
subconscious kept working on the problem. The next
time I was conscious of thinking about it, I was on
a bluff high above the creek. The trail gradually led
me down to the bottoms, past the spring and on to
the ponds. I stopped at one, crystal clear and filled
with aquatic plants. It looked inviting, so I sat and
entertained the thought process for a bit.
It didn’t take long. Like an egg hatching, the idea
emerged all at once, fully developed. The reason we
are happier is because we are smarter. It’s not what we
have that makes life nice—it is what we understand.
There is no question; it is indeed a matter of age to
some degree. If we are growing, we understand more
as time goes by. It doesn’t happen at the same rate,
or at the same time for everyone, but in general, the
movement is in the direction of getting smarter as we
get older. New lessons keep coming with time.
While all lessons are valuable, we see the biggest
jump in happiness when certain key concepts are
understood. For me, the most important piece of
knowledge acquired to date has been this—whatever
we devote our thinking to gets bigger in our lives.
We all know people we avoid because they are so
depressing. They talk endlessly about how tough life is,
and about their problems with work, money, or their
relationships with other people. If their conversation
in any way reflects their thinking, and I believe it does,
they are spending so much time and energy obsessing
about the not-so-great things in their lives that they
can’t even see, let alone develop, the good things.
Work is miserable, so they can’t excel there. Money is
tight because they can’t improve their position at work.
Relationships go sour or never begin because they are
just too depressing to be around.
Then there are people who concentrate their
thinking in another direction. They are excited about
having a job, and that attracts promotions and better
job offers. Of course, that brings more money. They
see life as a great adventure and that attracts other
interesting and exciting people.
As I got up and began the return hike to the
trailhead, I thought about how the world is full of
great stuff. The question is, will I attract or repel those
good things. The process all starts with a single choice.
Whatever I devote my thinking to will get bigger in my
life. It’s that simple. Which do I want to think about?
Yet the idea that most of us had to be over 50 to
achieve maximum happiness left me a bit sad. Too bad
it takes us so long to catch on.
Thanks for wandering Texas with me each month.
Don’t forget to check out Bay Area Houston
Magazine’s new BayCast, Bay Area Houston ALIVE,
at GoBAHA.com.
19
The Galveston Economic Development Partnership
I
f the last time you visited Galveston was before Hurricane Ike, plan another
trip. If you’ve never been to Galveston, now is a great time to go! The
Galveston that we all knew and liked well enough has reinvented itself
with a vengeance since it was ravaged by the storm nearly two years
ago. Established businesses have taken advantage of a terrible situation to
return better and stronger. New businesses, influenced by the resilience of
Galveston’s residents and business owners, have decided to cast their lots with
this community made stronger by tragedy. The result is an exciting, revitalized
downtown, accommodations that offer everything that destination resorts
do without the inconvenience or the often exorbitant cost of travel, and a
guaranteed good time whether you are a couple, a family, or alone. There truly is
something for everyone in Galveston!
How has Galveston been able to accomplish so much in the two years
since Hurricane Ike that other areas affected by weather disasters could not?
There are several possible explanations. Primarily, Galveston is a way of life,
not just a place to live. Its citizens are part of a community, and they give their
time, experience, and money to keep their way of life going strong in times of
prosperity and hardship. Like any island community, the city has seen its share
of natural disasters, economic downturns, and general malaise, due to the fact
that it is an island and not part of an urban economy. Galveston residents and
businesses survive and thrive by taking to heart the old saying, “when the going
gets tough, the tough get going.” They do this with the support of the Galveston
Economic Development Partnership (GEDP).
Founded in 1999, the GEDP is a private, non-profit 501(c) (6) organization
that is membership based. Its mission is to utilize broad-based community
support for the expansion of Galveston Island’s economic and tax bases. The
GEDP uses the resources of both the citizenry and local businesses to create
and support local projects on Galveston Island. After Hurricane Ike, the GEDP
worked with the mayor, city manager, and other local, state and federal officials
to reestablish city services, reopen businesses, and keep Galveston residents
as safe and comfortable as possible. GEDP created the Galveston Business
20
Recovery Fund to help those businesses impacted by Hurricane Ike. It offered
short term (180 days), low interest (5%) loans called Hurricane Ike Recovery
Loans, to businesses to get them open and running as soon as possible. These
loans have become a perpetual revolving loan fund for the Galveston business
community. Through these loans, Galveston’s local banks have reinvested $50
million into the community.
After the Galveston business community’s immediate needs were met,
GEDP partnered with Houston Galveston Area Council to establish the
Galveston Business Recovery Fund. Much like the Hurricane Ike Recovery
Loans, Business Recovery Loans are low interest (5%), and the borrower has up
to ten years to repay. These loans are available to for-profit businesses to use
for working capital, fixtures, furniture, equipment, facility repairs, utility fees, etc.
Businesses can also contribute to the fund, with 100% of the contribution being
used for Business Recovery Loan funding.
The GEDP plays a pivotal role in Galveston’s economic structure when the
city is not in crisis, as well. It offers businesses data services, GIS mapping, and
real estate assistance, and serves businesses’ individual needs.
Today, the GEDP is focusing on the future. It is working with UTMB, the
Port of Galveston, and other business entities, to facilitate Galveston’s growth
and move the city into the future. It is also working with existing and new
businesses to develop and maintain a friendly business climate, as well as creating
housing incentives for families who previously might have overlooked Galveston
as a place to raise their children, so they may buy homes on the island. UTMB
and the City of Galveston are expanding their work forces. Galveston’s new
and established businesses need employees. Task forces (Education/Workforce,
Housing and Sustainable Development, Economic and Development Incentives,
etc.) established by GEDP prior to the hurricane will continue their work.
For more information, please contact:
Galveston Economic Redevelopment Partnership
1902 Mechanic St. PO Box 8029 | Galveston, TX 77553 | 409-770-0216
22
23
W
hen it’s time
for a getaway,
why go through
all the hassle
of traveling over land and sea
to your destination, when you
have a little bit of paradise right
here? The San Luis Resort has
everything that you could ever
dream of in the way of luxury
and personal service and it is
located in Galveston. Whether
you are planning an extended
stay, or a quick weekend trip,
you will find everything you want and need to have the vacation of your
dreams.
As you walk in the massive front doors, you are greeted with a blast of
cool air. Your stress level immediately begins to go down. The hotel staff is
extremely friendly and accommodating. To a person, they are cheerful and
willing to do anything they can to make your visit the best it can be.
Spa San Luis is located in the lower part of the hotel. Spa director
Christine Top and her staff have created a tranquil atmosphere that is in
direct contrast with the hustle and bustle of the lobby/sitting room. Their
mission is that the Spa be green, and that it offers products and treatment
from all over the world. Breathe in the aromas of product lines from exotic
areas including Indonesia, Great Britain, Germany, Bali, and Thailand. Sip a
calming elixir tonic while you wait for your services. The service givers at the
spa are low key, but very competent, which is the key to an outstanding spa
experience.
Hungry? “We create an atmosphere that is chic, intimate, sophisticated,
while cozy”, general manager Jon Paul says of The Steakhouse. They also
create some darn good food! The Steakhouse has won the AAA 4 Diamond
award for six years, and is one of Tom Horan’s #1 picks on his Top Ten Texas
Steakhouses. The multi-award winning restaurant is known for its USDA prime
Midwestern, grain fed beef, as well as for its wine selection. Both the menu
and the wine list are frequently updated. The desserts include key lime pie
and a cheesecake previously seen only in your dreams. Their soufflés are
made on the premises.
The Steakhouse runs like the proverbial “well-oiled machine”. Paul says
that the key to maintaining the quality of the kitchen and the dining room is to
“hire smart, train frequently, follow through, and treat people with respect”.
His philosophy seems to be working very, very well.
When you are looking for a little fun (well, probably a lot of fun), pay
a visit to the H2O Pool and Bar, managed by Simon Randolph. Cabanas?
Really? Really. These brightly colored orange, red, and yellow cabanas have
overstuffed personal lounge chairs, flat screen LCD TVs, bottled water, fruit,
tableside food, and a waiter to fulfill your every need.
If you are alone, rent a poolside bed. You won’t be alone for long.
Have your choice of food from the Sushi Bar, Café or The Steakhouse. Enjoy
the music. Sip one of a variety of tropical martinis. Relax.
In the mood to mingle? Visit the swim up bar. Dance to the music. Join
other partiers at the fire pit. Move among Galveston’s “See and Be Seen”
crowd. In this party atmosphere, you can’t possibly have a bad time!
24
Local Media Women Excel
Lynda Guidry
Rebecca Collins
Pat Patton
Lynda Guidry is pleased to reside in
this part of the state of Texas because it
contributes so much to the economic and
cultural vitality of our nation.
She and her husband, Jim migrated
individually to the Houston-Galveston region
from the Golden Triangle area of Texas. They
met on Galveston Island and married there
on Leap Day 1996. Four months later they
launched Guidry News Service.
For the past 14 years they’ve pooled their
talents and skills to document the important
events and initiatives impacting the quality
of life on the Upper Texas Gulf Coast and
beyond. Pioneering delivery of news via the
Internet has proved both highly gratifying
and challenging. Lynda plans to continue
to use Internet technology to foster support
for social services, education and the arts,
especially for children.
Her husband, family and friends keep her
energized and her Christian faith keeps her
encouraged.
Rebecca Collins is the editor and publisher of The
Bay Area Observer newspaper. She created The Bay Area
Observer four years ago as an online journal covering the
communities along Galveston Bay. In 2010, she realized
a hard copy newspaper was needed in the area to serve
the needs of the community, and decided to bring The
Bay Area Observer into print.
She founded The Bay Area Observer with the
community in mind. Local stories are important, and
she wants readers to feel the newspaper belongs to them.
Despite the emergence of new information technologies,
community newspapers continue to play an important
role in the information age. Over 150 million people
are informed, educated and entertained by a community
newspaper every week.
Prior to starting The Bay Area Observer, she worked
as a graphic designer at a local publication for many
years, where she learned every aspect of running a
community newspaper. She is also an artist, and paints
as much as she can in her spare time.
The Bay Area Observer will continue to grow as
Rebecca seeks new ways to serve readers and help
strengthen the Bay Area communities.
Pat Patton has owned a public relations
firm, Born Wild-Innovative Promotions, for
thirteen years. She is involved in the majority
of Bay Area community and charitable events,
and has been a member of the Bay Area
Houston Economic Partnership for fifteen
years. Pat writes the CLICK column, and
also wrote the history of NASA for Bay Area
Houston Magazine. She has an internet
interview show, “Pat Patton Interviews” on
Guidry News Service, www.GuidryNews.com,
and is also a photojournalist. A highlight of
Pat’s career was being a media contact for two
of her heroes: Neil Armstrong and Walter
Cronkite.
Pat has six years of experience with her
own radio shows on Star Radio 101.5 FM
KSTB, and KGBC 1540 AM from 1997 to
2002. She has been modeling at community
fashion shows for ten years. Pat is a master
of ceremonies, a public speaker, and has
performed with entertainer Kelly McGuire,
the Fab 5, and other bands. Internet News Pioneer
26
News Editor & Artist
Media Personality
“She is best known locally as the Ron Carter Toyota dealership
spokesperson, starring in their television commercials, pictured in
local magazine and newspaper ads and on the dealership’s Web site.”
Lake, she has been teaching the artistic dance form, which she says is about “culture
and celebration.”
But she is best known locally as the Ron Carter Toyota dealership spokesperson,
starring in their television commercials, pictured in local magazine and newspaper ads
and on the dealership’s Web site.
“It’s funny to my friends if their TV is on but they aren’t watching it. They’ll
hear my voice and think I’m in their house!” said Wink.
Confident, poised and professional in front of the camera, Wink shot her first
commercial for the Alvin dealership in July 2009, not long after her husband Peter
took the helm of the dealership as general manager.
Every month since then, Wink steps before the lights with a microphone clipped
to her clothing and another above her head to make two new commercials. Before
Spokeswoman Extraordinaire for Ron Carter Toyota
By Diana North
L
isa Wink admits she’s a “glass half-full” kind of person. She also believes
that every person has to “find her passion” while conceding that sometimes
finding it takes time.
The Clear Lake resident lives with Peter, her husband of 17 years,
and three spoiled rescue dogs: mixed breeds Charlie and Shadow, and Tara the Cocker
Spaniel.
A flight attendant for Southwest Airlines for the last 25 years, the elegant and
attractive Seattle native moved to Clear Lake shortly after marrying Peter. The couple
returned to the Houston area more than a year ago after spending 13 years in her
hometown to be near family.
“Peter and I missed our friends and the Texas-style social aspect of living!” said
Wink. “It’s all about the people.”
Wink has a modeling background and is an avid reader who wishes she had time to
start a book club with friends. But her passion in life is belly dancing. For the last 12
years Wink has studied and performed Egyptian belly dance. Since her return to Clear
the camera rolls, Wink usually attends a brief meeting with Peter and Joey Wright, the
producer/director of Reel Connection Media, to go over the script she gets either the
day before or when she arrives for the shoot.
“The first few commercials we did make a reference to my marriage to Peter with
the line, ‘How do I know you’ll get a great deal at RCT? My husband is the boss!’”
Wink said.
She most enjoys the technical parts like lighting, blocking, timing, and laughing
at herself “when I screw up lines.” She admits that picking out outfits is stressful, and
she prefers not to watch herself when she’s finished.
Making the 15-to 30-second finished commercial requires an understanding
of timing, lighting, placement, lines, tone of voice and sound. Her movements on
camera are choreographed and there are several takes of each part—until everything
is right. Finished commercials take about two hours and are pre-approved by Toyota
before they are aired.
“The only thing that’s tough is that we are in a place of business, and have to
have silence to shoot,” said Wink. “You’ve got lots of employees, customers, phones
and background music, sales, parts and service, paging—it pretty much has to come
to a halt so we can film.”
But Wink says people at the dealership have gotten used to it.
She also says people are often surprised to know that she doesn’t get nervous in
front of the camera—and credits her patience and ability to put people at ease to her
work as a flight attendant, dance student and from performing as a belly dancer.
Wink performs solo belly dancing each Friday night at Skipper’s Café in Kemah,
where she goes by the stage name “Jahari.” Dressed in beaded, colorful costumes she
entertains guests with graceful movements done to Middle Eastern music. In Seattle,
she performed in restaurants, nightclubs, fairs, festivals, retirement homes and family
celebrations.
For now she focuses on learning and teaching. She currently has a core group
of students, along with newer ones, that she instructs at Premier Dance Academy
in Clear Lake. “I love teaching,” said Wink. “It makes me so proud when students
clearly understand what they are doing; you see it in their faces. It is instant
gratification.”
Patience, for Wink, has paid off. “It truly is never too late to start something
new in your life,” Wink said.
27
“Women of Distinction” come to us in many
ways. Debi Sullivan, owner of Glass Mermaids,
found a “Woman of Distinction” by accident. The
lady in question was lost at sea for many years but
luckily washed ashore and found a home exactly
where she belongs, at Glass Mermaids. This missing
mermaid pelican had been commissioned many
years ago but disappeared. She is now found and
is the latest addition to the Seabrook Association’s
Pelican Path Project. She promises to be a crown
jewel in the long line of Pelicans now on display in
the City of Seabrook.
The Pelican project came about many years
ago and has become a unique and wonderful
attraction for the city. Mermaids are hard to find
these days and this particular mermaid is an ongoing restoration project at the able hands of Debi
and her staff. She is a sea treasure recovered and
will become a delight for tourists and residents in
Seabrook for years to come. This mermaid “pelican
of distinction” is pictured here in her found state
but will become a jewel of the sea in her new
home at Glass Mermaids for everyone to enjoy.
Be sure and come by the shop from time to
time and see the progress in her restoration
from castaway to a beautiful queen of the
ocean.
Also, pictured are resident mermaids
and “Women of Distinction” Debi
Sullivan, left, and her able assistant
Cathy Wortham. Debi and Cathy recently
came back from a buying trip with new
inventory for the shop located at 2900
NASA Parkway, Suite 200 in Seabrook.
The long lost
Mermaid Pelican,
originally
commissioned
by the Seabrook
Assocation’s Pelican
Path Project, has
found a happy
home at Glass
Mermaids.
28
Visiting Glass Mermaids is like a voyage into the depths
of the ocean with home furnishings, gifts, home accessories
and just about everything you can think of to turn your home
into an underwater fantasy. The shop also has jewelry, candles,
lotions, cards, custom bedding, rugs and all kinds of novelty
items. Nautical art depicting wonderful seascapes and of course
drawings and paintings of mermaids can be found here. Garden
art, sculptures and pool accessories are also available.
Debi not only runs her shop but also assists her husband
with their other businesses, Sullivan Wire and Rope,
Measurement Technologies and Third Coast Mats. Debi handles
the financials for these businesses but of course her first love is
Glass Mermaids and the creative outlet it provides her.
Come dive in and experience the wonders of the sea at
Glass Mermaids. Whether you need that unique touch for
your home or garden, a special gift or just want to come by
and browse, this is the place to go. For more information on
the shop call 281-326-3000.
“Business and family are
my life. I believe that if you
invest your time and energy
into your customers, they will
know you care about them.”
A
lma, along with her husband Joe Sr. and two
of their four children, Gina and Joe Jr., work
together making the restaurants a true family
business. Daughter, Gina Gonzalez says she is
proud to continue in her mother’s footsteps and contribute
to making Mamacita’s one of the best dining destinations in
the area.
“Our first location is located in El Jardin at 7849
Harrisburg and is still in business after 33 years,” says
Alma,” We now have three more locations. Still, after all
these years, we start everyday from scratch. I like to be a
part of all the details, from the freshness and quality of
the food to creating a beautiful dining atmosphere for
our customers. I have spent a lot of time over the years
improving our recipes and finding and hiring great chefs.
I get immense enjoyment watching our customers go
home happy after the dining experience they have at our
restaurants.” “Business and family are my life. I believe that if you
invest your time and energy into your customers, they will
know you care about them,” states Alma. She and her
family love getting to know their customers and becoming a
part of their customers’ families. Alma especially enjoys the
occasions when the restaurants are used for special events
such as birthday parties, showers and business luncheons or
dinners. Alma says, “I want everyone to know that they can
depend on us for the big and small events in their lives.”
Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurants are located at 515 NASA
Parkway, in Webster, 281-332-5362, 15335 North Freeway,
in Houston, 281-876-3661, 7325 Spencer Highway, in
Pasadena, 281-476-9545, and 7849 Harrisburg, in El
Jardin, 713-921-3633. The Pasadena restaurant is also the
location of Mamacita’s Ballroom, a full service, reception,
party and meeting facility that can accommodate up to 500.
Go to www.mamacitasmexicanrestaurant.com for more
information on all the restaurants.
With Alma’s childhood dream realized, she looks
forward to many more years of success and generations of
the Gonzalez family carrying on the Mamacita’s tradition!
Alma Gonzalez knew at a very young age what she wanted to do in life.
Growing up in Mexico, her mother was her mentor and taught her that hard
work and determination lead to success. It seems Alma took her mother’s advice
and if Alma’s successful Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurants, now in four locations,
are any indication, her mother knew what she was talking about.
Alma and Joe celebrate his 60th birthday!
29
Barcenas Real Estate & Barcenas Mexican Restaurants
Josie Barcenas is the owner
of Barcenas Real Estate.
She is a lifelong resident of
Friendswood, is married and
has four children She met her
husband at a restaurant where
they both worked, she as the
secretary and part-time hostess
and he as a waiter. I
’ll never forget the first time I met
him,” she tells. “I told all the other
employees I’m going to marry that
guy!’”
She made good on the promise
11 months later when they were
married. She considers her husband
to be her best friend and because of
his unconditional love and support she was
able to pursue her career in real estate.
Immediately after she was married she
began working for Park Plaza Orthopedics
with Dr. Christensen and Dr. Lee.
They gave me the opportunity to work
for them despite not having any experience,”
Josie said of the doctors. “They even paid for
me to take a Spanish Medical Terminology
class so that I could assist with the Spanish
speaking patients.”
She was employed by Park Plaza
Orthopedics for 10 years. In 1998, she and
her husband had the opportunity to open
their first restaurant (which was actually the
same restaurant they worked at when they
were dating). “We were scared but it was my
husband’s dream and I felt like it was an
opportunity of a lifetime.” Barcenas Mexican Restaurant is
located in the Bay Area and has now been
in business for 12 years. The couple also
owns two other restaurants, one near Hobby
Airport and one in La Marque.
Five years ago, after Josie had
supported her husband in his life-long
dream of owning a restaurant, he returned
the favor by supporting her as she pursued
her dream of real estate sales. She studied at
Champions School of Real Estate, got her
real estate license and immediately began
working for Coldwell Banker PenningtonChen.
“I was extremely fortunate to have
such a wonderful broker, Nancy
Chen,” Barcenas said. “She gave me
the training and guidance I needed to be
successful. I worked with full-time real
estate professionals that were not only
my colleagues but also my friends.”
Coldwell Banker Pennington-Chen
then merged with Prudential Gary Greene
Realtors where she worked until January of
this year when she decided to venture
off on her own. “I have come to realize that the
reason I have been happy with all my
jobs and careers is because I was serving
people...I was obviously born to serve
people and love it!”
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T
he physicians and health care staff of The
Spine Center of Texas understand the wants,
needs and time constraints of their patients.
They provide total patient care including consultations, CT scans,
EKGs, physical therapy, treatments, injections, drawing of blood,
pain management, and pre- and post-operative information. A complete imaging
center is currently under construction.
The dynamic Saqib Siddiqui M.D heads this state-of-the-art facility. He
lived and was educated in Sydney, Australia where he earned his medical degree
and specialized in orthopedics. Dr. Siddiqui completed his residency work at St.
Vincent’s Medical Center and Kingsbrook Medical Center in New York City.
Dr. Siddiqui is a highly qualified orthopedic spine surgeon. He completed
a prestigious fellowship in spinal surgery at the Texas Back Institute in Plano.
He is a scholar and has published numerous articles in several orthopedic and
spine-related peer-reviewed journals and a textbook chapter on lumbar spine
arthroplasty. He has also presented his research at national and international spine
and orthopedic meetings and has received numerous awards for his research.
Dr. Siddiqui decided to specialize in back surgery because he himself suffers
from back pain. According to Siddiqui, “Back pain is either hereditary or comes
from injury. Statistics show most back pain comes from a variety of injuries. We
specialize in total patient care and understand their injury and discomfort. The
under-one-roof medical center concept is very attractive to back patients because
they do not have to drive all over town for injections, blood work, physical
therapy, or treatment. Most all of their
procedures can be done at one facility with
our highly trained medical and healthcare
staff. This causes less stress, and anxiety and
requires less effort on the part of the patient
who is already anxious and has limited
mobility.”
The emphasis and goal at The
Spine Center is to treat the patient as an
individual and give plenty of time for their
consultation, procedure, or treatment.
“Furthermore, we are very thorough with
pre- and post-op procedures, making it
easy for the patient and family members
to understand what is going to take place.
Educating the patient is top on our list,
“Dr. Joe and Dr. Linda
which makes for a good doctor-patient
Pouzar
are celebrating 20
relationship,” said Dr. Siddiqui.
years
of
exceptional service
At The Spine Center, it is all about
within
Clear
Lake Family
quality care and getting patients who need
Physicians,
our
community as
surgery, up and around as soon as possible.
well
as
internationally.
“We are experts in minimally invasive
This family owned
surgery at The Spine Center. We believe in
organization is committed to
less pain, less blood, less time recovering,
delivering the finest possible
shorter outpatient or hospital stays and less
primary health care to clients
time rehabilitating. The patient likes it; the
of all ages. family likes it; and of course, the employer or All six providers aspire to
team likes it,” stated Dr. Siddiqui.
develop long-term physicianDr. Siddiqui is fellowship-trained in
patient relationships and
treating spinal disorders, both surgically and
foster preventative and
non-surgically. The Spine Center accepts
educational care.
most all insurance, Medicare, and fee-based
Clear Lake Family Physicians
payments.
is a name that stands for
If you are suffering from back or
integrity, compassion and
neck pain, call and make an appointment
commitment. We invite your family to meet
at 866.MY.SPINE (697-7463) or www.
our family and experience the
surgicalspinesolutions.com. The Spine
Center has opened a new clinic in Clear Lake difference!”
to service our community.
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36
BAHM’s 10th Anniversary Party!
T
he Bay Area Houston Magazine’s 10th Anniversary party at the
fabulous Cullen’s Upscale American Grille on June 10, 2010,
was party making at its best with fun, friendship, and laughter. The Bay Area Houston community came out to congratulate
President/CEO Rick Clapp, and to help celebrate the success of the
Bay Area Houston Magazine’s 10th anniversary. It was a very special and
memorable evening with wonderful appetizers from Cullen’s, great music
by the Jando Band, and roses for all the ladies. Always on the cutting edge, Rick created the first webcast combining
traditional media, as well as social media - the Bay Area Houston Alive
Baycast, www.GoBAHA.com in 2009. The premise of the Bay Area
Houston Magazine is to share good news, and continue creating a positive
change for our community, our non-profit organizations, our clients, and
our friends. Rick has received many honors and awards over the years. He was
recently honored with TAACCL’s “Renaissance Men” Award on February
20, 2010. The best words to describe Rick Clapp are: visionary, creator,
globetrotter, and connoisseur of Life. This column is special for me because Rick has been an important
mentor in my life, and he gave me the opportunity to write my first
column in 1997. I wrote the BUZZ and the BizBuzz Columns for
BayRunner / Baycomber Magazines from 1997 to 2001. I wrote the history
of NASA for NASA’s 50th Anniversary for Bay Area Houston Magazine
in 2008, and I now write the CLICK column. It is really fun to be back
writing for Rick again.
Check out the photos on www.GoBAHA.com. I look forward to
seeing everyone at the next event. You never know when you will be the
one in my camera frame – CLICK!
CLICK is sponsored by Dana Doncaster of J. Hilburn Clothing.
Luxurious tailored clothing at boldly lower prices. Dana.Doncaster@
Jhilburnpartner.com.
Buccaneer Construction’s 2nd
Annual Bay Area Home Show
Buccaneer Construction owner Vic Hegmand, Steve Ruonauaara and Vic Jr.
Armor Glass International owner Michael Fjetland.
Kemah Cabinets owner Elbert Curtis.
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39
42
Vintage & Modern Meet
at the Sweet Spot
O
ne recurring theme in
conversation and print
media today is the
consumerist mentality
that seems to have overtaken every
corner of America. The evidence
is all around us. There are internet
listings, countless storage facilities
and that ubiquitous Saturday
morning phenomena, the garage
sale. All these are a
testament to the fact
that we buy a lot of
stuff that we don’t
miss when it’s gone.
Have you ever
made note of what
you don’t often
find in the stacks
and rows, lines
and pages of stuff
for sale? Those of
us who love music
would be delighted
to find a pair of vintage speakers
or perhaps a special album to add
to our collection but there aren’t
many to be found. You may find the
occasional inexpensive “stereo” that
has seen duty in the kids’ room or
perhaps a dorm, but what of the tens
of thousands of pieces of fine stereo
equipment sold from the early sixties
to the early eighties just before the
compact disc and the digital world
dawned.
What became of the great
snarling beasts of the sixties in all
their V-8 leaded gas glory? On the
other end of the spectrum, where are
the flyweight English sports cars that
could be flung about whilst ripping
down a back road on a crisp fall
Saturday? They are now a cherished
and valued living, functioning
history. Consider the fine 35mm
film camera that had just the right
feel or those vinyl albums that the
disc somehow couldn’t replace.
Things handmade or machine made
of high quality and good design never
go out of style. A significant number
of today’s young folks are discovering
for themselves the joy of the vinyl
record. Many popular bands are
releasing their music on records as
well as streaming media.
In the flow of our lives there
are people, relationships, things,
moments that are worth keeping
in the heart and in the mind. The
Sweet Spot is dedicated to sharing,
celebrating and enjoying those less
transient things that give us pleasure.
They have reissues and new releases
of great music on vinyl. Bring your
favorite record or CD to audition
the breathtaking Dynaudio and
Dali speaker line. Examine the Rega
turntables and cartridges they offer
or perhaps a fine pair of headphones
by Grado. Browse the large selection
of splendidly detailed die-cast model
cars, motorcycles
and famous auto
engines that made
history. You’ll
find a unique gift
or a keepsake for
yourself. Make
yourself comfortable
in the leather chairs,
read and listen to a
great sound system
or concert DVD.
Take a break from
the noise.
You aren’t likely to find a fine
pair of speakers and a great turntable
at the curbside on Saturday morning.
New or old, they’ll be inside the
Sweet Spot, providing the soundtrack
to a good cup of coffee and a good
read. Enjoy!
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by Capt. Joe Kent
Prime Time for the Spoil Banks
A
ugust is typically the month
when the summer heat
reaches its peak around the
Galveston Bay Complex.
When the water is at its warmest,
fish, especially speckled trout, head to
deeper and cooler waters where the
oxygen levels are more appealing.
Among the spots that attract
concentrations of trout and reds are
the spoil banks along the Houston
Ship Channel. All along the channel,
from just inside the Texas City dike to
the point where the Seabrook channel
intersects, there is some excellent
summertime fishing.
The spoil banks or spoils, as
they are often called, are the piles of
dredged mud, sand and shell from
where the channel was dug. They
appear alongside, and parallel to, the
deep channel.
Crustaceans, shellfish and small
finfish are attracted to the spoils. With
the concentration of bait or food in
the area, along come the predator fish.
The deep waters of the channel attract
the larger fish and, when it is feeding
time, a source of food is close by. The
depth of the spoil banks ranges from
seven to ten feet.
Key signs to look for when fishing
the spoils are good water clarity and
tidal movement. Anchoring in offcolor water is usually a waste of time
for anglers.
The most popular method for
fishing is to anchor along one of the
drop-offs and either free-line live
shrimp or fish with a popping cork
and 24-inch leader. Live croaker is
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competing neck-to-neck with shrimp
as today’s choice of bait.
While artificial baits are popular
and productive in most areas of the
bay, anglers experienced at fishing the
spoil banks prefer live baits.
Marker 59 is noted as one of the
pivotal points along the ship channel
for fishing. Most boats tend to favor
the north side of the channel for
anchoring.
While fishing the spoil banks
can be quite productive, there is an
added element of danger in the area.
Intense wakes of passing ships have
the potential to capsize smaller boats.
Each year, there are reports of boats
being swamped by the wake of large
vessels.
San Leon, especially Eagle Point
Bait Camp and April Fool Point
Marina, offer the closest point for
launching boats to fish the spoil
banks. Kemah and Seabrook are also
launching points; however, they are
farther away. From Seabrook, it is
an approximate five-mile ride to the
closest connection to the spoils.
A good depth recorder is helpful
when locating a spot to anchor. The
spoils are filled with rises and guts and
positioning the boat to fish a drop-off
gives anglers an added advantage.
Up until the early 1970s party
boats would make daily fishing trips
out of Kemah and load up on a wide
variety of fish along the edges of the
ship channel. Today, privately owned
boats have taken over and anglers
continue to enjoy the bounty of fish
offered during the warm weather.
South West International Boat Show
T
he South Shore Harbour Marina once again plays host to the largest
and most exciting in-water boat show ever to come to Houston and
the Lone Star State—the South West International Boat Show.
Unlike any other boat show, the South West International
Boat Show is an open invitation to manufacturers, dealers, brokers and charter
companies to participate in a truly international, in-water, boat show at one
of the best known venues in the Gulf Coast region, the South Shore Harbour
Marina.
Buyers, sellers and exhibitors from across Texas, the USA, and Mexico will
come together in a relaxed and leisurely environment to meet during this fourday event.
Show Dates and Hours:
Thursday, September 23:
11.00am-6.00pm
Opening Ceremony:
10.30am
Over 400 bay boats,
sailboats, powerboats and
luxury yachts will be on
(Ribbon cutting by League City Mayor Toni Randall)
display in the water and
Friday, September 24:
onshore, together with the
11.00am-8.00pm
latest water toys, personal
Saturday, September 25:
watercraft and much, much,
10.00am-8.00pm
more.
Sunday, September 26:
The opportunity to
11.00am-6.00pm
demo many of the in-water
Parking
boats on display at this show
Parking lots within the South Shore
adds a whole new dimension
Harbour Resort are free to use.
to boat show shopping, along
Directional signage will also identify free
with end-of-season deals and
overflow parking locations. Please visit
new model previews.
www.southwestinternationalboatshow.
com for updates on parking, exhibitors,
This year’s show will
events and sponsors.
also feature the Houston
Wakeboard Shoot-Out with
Sponsors of the event include:
the world’s best competing
Academy Sports & Outdoors, Destination League
for Texas “bragging rights.”
City, HEB, Landshark, Mustang Cat, South Shore
And yes, you’ve heard right,
Harbour Resort & Conference Center
a Seafood Cook-Off on the
Friday afternoon.
In addition to some of the world’s finest boats available today, trucks, luxury
autos and custom motorcycles will be displayed for sale. Live music from the
islands and plenty of fun for the whole family will ensure that the South West
International Boat Show will provide four fabulous days of fun in the sun.
Tickets will be available online at www.southwestinternationalboatshow.com
as well as at HEB stores. Academy Sports & Outdoors will also be giving away
$2 off admission coupons to customers.
45
Lakewood Yacht Club
2425 NASA Parkway
Seabrook, TX 77586-3499
(281) 474-2511
Harvest Moon Regatta Sailing
Fund Launched
H
arvest Moon Regatta co-founder and past Lakewood
Yacht Club Commodore John Broderick has announced
that a fund has been started through the Galveston
Historical Foundation to see the 1887 tall ship of
Texas, the Elissa, through a needed haul-out.
“Our hope and goal is to have this accomplished in time
for the Elissa to join Lakewood Yacht Club in the 25th Silver
Anniversary sail at the club’s Harvest Moon Regatta in 2011”,
related Broderick who is supporting this effort through a
promotion to club members and the general public.
The Elissa, as well as the Seaport Museum, are projects of
the Galveston Historical Foundation. “We are keeping track of
the donations on a large banner poster on display in Lakewood’s
main lobby. So far, we have raised over $30,000,” added
Broderick. To donate to the fund, please go to the Web site at
www.galvestonhistory.org/Elissa-donate.asp
The 2010 Harvest Moon Regatta, a 150-mile sailboat
race from Galveston to Port Aransas, is slated to start off the
Galveston jetties in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday afternoon,
October 21. Harvest Moon Regatta chair Andrea Todaro has
announced that on-line entry forms are now available for racers
at www.harvestmoonregatta.com.
Typically, over 220 boats enter the event, making it the
largest port-to-port race within the United States. Racers and
their friends look forward to spending time in Port Aransas, a
popular Texas fishing community and home for the post-race
party and awards ceremony to be held in the City Pavilion
on Saturday, October 23. Over 2,000 are expected for the
Welcome Sailors Rum Party sponsored by Bacardi U.S.A.
Nautica Yachting Center of Kemah is the platinum sponsor
of the race. Bay Access, a local non-profit organization
dedicated to amateur racing on Galveston Bay, is also a
sponsor.
Racers should put the date of September 11, on their
calendar. It is the date of the Captains’ Round Table Safety
Day. “This is a critical meeting for those first time off-shore
racers, where such topics as navigation, safety equipment, and
need-to-know ship channel instructions for Port Aransas are
reviewed,” explained Todaro.
Harvest Moon t-shirts and other apparel will be available
for purchase at Lakewood Yacht Club, 2425 NASA Parkway in
Seabrook during the Safety Day as well as the at the Skippers’
Meeting slated for Friday, October 15.
Further information about the 24th Annual Harvest Moon
Regatta can be obtained by checking out the club’s Web site at
www.lakewoodyachtclub.com.
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Lakewood’s Bay Cup II Slated for August 7th
L
akewood Yacht Club Race Committee Chairman Dwight Bengtson has announced that
the 2010 Bay Cup II will be held on Saturday, August 7. This is the second in a series.
Bay Cup I was held last March. The race is open to the public with a $50 registration
fee. Racers can register online at Lakewood’s website: www.lakewoodyachtclub.com
under the racing button.
“Bay Cup II will feature long distance racing in Galveston and Trinity Bays,” noted
Bengtson, “with multiple legs for a total of between five and 25 nautical miles, depending
upon wind conditions. This should be a navigational challenge for the racers as well.”
Classes include PHRF Spinnaker, Short-handed Offshore Sailors, Cruising Non-Spinnaker
and Multi-Hulls.
There will also be a Saturday night pool party and steak dinner with entertainment.
Awards will be presented for the overall class winners of Bay Cup II as well as the 2010 Bay
Cup Series.
Bengtson wanted to thank the sponsors of Bay Cup II: Sea Lake Yacht Sales, Sobieski
Vodka, and Bay Access, Inc., which is a not-for-profit organization fostering amateur sailing.
Racers are encouraged to attend the Bay Cup II Skippers meeting which will be held at
Lakewood Yacht Club, 2425 NASA Parkway, in Seabrook, on Friday, August 6 at 7:30 pm.
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49
OUR DONATIONS
Charity Begins With
Bay Area Houston Magazine
PAULINE REESE BAND TO HEADLINE PLUGGED-IN MUSIC FESTIVAL
Event to Feature Texas Rising
Stars in Pop, Rap, Funk,
Alternative and Country
A
MOCO Federal Credit Union has
announced the talent lineup for the
much anticipated Plugged In Twenty
Ten Music Fest that will feature some
of the best rising stars from Texas in pop, rap,
alternative and country music, with country rocker
Pauline Reese and her band headlining.
The family fun festival will take place
Saturday, August 28, at the Evelyn B. Newman
Amphitheater at Centennial Park, 2200 S.
Friendswood Drive in Friendswood, Texas. Music
kicks off at 7 p.m. and entry is free.
At 9:45 p.m., Pauline Reese, recently named
Entertainer of the Year at the Texas Music
Awards, will bring her top-tier vocals, original
songs and magnetic stage presence to close the
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evening of music. For more information, visit www.
paulinereese.com.
Other artists on the bill include some of
Houston’s best performers: JV2Fresh (www.
jv2fresh.com) TIB, Lauren Ashley, and VerseCity
(www.versecity.com).
Information about the event, including
parking, sponsors and performers can be found at
www.amocofcu.org; follow AMOCO on Facebook
or Twitter for event updates.
Proceeds raised at the event through food
concessions and event T-shirts will be donated to
the City of Friendswood Parks and Recreation
to support community-wide services and youth
programs.
AMOCO Federal Credit Union is a memberowned financial organization with a mission to
serve and satisfy its members, and it has done just
that over the past 70 years.
Contact: Tina Linquist, AMOCO Federal
Credit Union marketing VP, 281.534.5508;
[email protected].
Our Community
Newly named Seabrook Rotary President, Mike Huss, right, took over from out going President
Nick Geeslin, left, during the June 24 meeting at Lakewood Yacht Club. Glenn Royal, center,
was inducted as the new Vice President.
Last month the Jeanette Williams Foundation sent thirty children being treated for cancer and
blood disorders at UTMB-Galveston to the Camp For All in Burton, Texas. The founder of
the Jeanette Williams Foundation, Dianne Troop, along with board members Jayne Gillis and
Mary Ellen Arledge visited the camp, which was built over 10 years ago by the M.D. Anderson
Foundation.
Lunar Rendezvous Wine Dinner at Perry’s Italian Restaurant.
54
Cruz Cortez, owner of Cruz Cortez Clothiers, and Rick Clapp of GoBAHA.com, visit during
the Galveston Artwalk.
2010 Nations Baseball 9U Kid Pitch National Champions
Coaches (from left to right): Jerry Pacheco, Kurt Olson, Fred Lara
Players: Trhea Morse, Kristopher O’Neal, Izaac Pacheco, Andrew Lara, Isaac Lopez,
TeeAndrew Trejo, Clayton Broeder, Austin Olson, Kole Neubauer
Not Pictured: Roger and Hudson Lane
By unanimous vote, the Harris
County Commissioners Court
and the Houston City Council
have jointly re-appointed James
T. Edmonds as chairman of the
Port Commission of the Port
of Houston Authority. County
commissioners and city council
members gathered in the council
chambers of the Houston City
Hall for the vote.
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56
57
Rick Clapp of Bay Area Houston Magazine enjoys a nice evening with the
Guidrys, of GuidryNews.com.
Café Under The Oaks
Home Style Cooking In Historic League City
C
afé Under The Oaks, a homey, comfortable place to dine, is located
in the heart of League City’s enchanting historic district at 615 E.
Main Street. There is an outside dining patio, a park next door and
Saint Mary’s Church across the street. The café is a nice stop on
your tour of League City. There are many quaint little shops to visit before or
after you’ve had breakfast or lunch.
The inside of the restaurant is designed to resemble a Tuscan courtyard with
seating for 50. Café Under The Oaks is family owned and operated by Chrystal
Benson and her two daughters. The Café is a popular lunch spot for locals
as well as visitors traveling through the area and is the perfect place to eat for
anyone who wants some good ole’ southern comfort food.
The Café includes a small gift shop, called “Lorelei’s Boutique” and
has knick-knacks, home décor, garden ornaments and jewelry. Lorelei is the
daughter of Beth Young who is the daughter of Chrystal Benson, the owner of
Café Under The Oaks. Beth is the floor manager, cook and server. This is truly
a family business and in addition, all the staff has either been in the past, or is
now, a member of Clear Creek ISD’s ROTC program.
Specialties of Café Under The Oaks include breakfast, served all day long,
homemade berry cobbler and bread pudding. When dining at the restaurant
try the signature Monty’s Jalapenos, a culinary treat stuffed with cream cheese
and wrapped in bacon. Sunday Brunch is 9 to 3. Children 10 and under can eat
brunch free with the purchase of one adult entrée per child.
The home style restaurant serves up all of your favorite fare including
chicken fried steak, meatloaf, lasagna, mushroom swiss burgers, jalapeno
burgers, chicken and tuna salad sandwiches, home made soups, fresh cut fries,
onion rings and much, much more. A basic selection of wine and beer is
available.
The restaurant offers private parties for baby showers, client lunches,
church groups and local organizations that want a quiet place to have a business
meeting or gathering.
Become a friend of the restaurant on Facebook and see the menu, specials,
and comments by customers. Visit iDine.com. and learn how to earn airline
miles when dining at the café.
The friendly staff and good food make for a homey, relaxing place to
come. Hours are Monday, 8 to 3, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 7 to 4,
Friday and Saturday 7 to 5 and Sunday 9 to 3. Delivery is available through
mytakeoutwaiter.com. For more information, come by the restaurant or call
281-557-9496.
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61
From the District
Clerk’s Office
Galveston County, TX
Latonia D. Wilson
District Clerk Successfully Implements Phase 1
of Odyssey Case Management System
District Clerk Latonia Wilson has implemented phase one
(1) of the Odyssey case management system from Tyler
Technologies. Odyssey offers the following features:
1. Internet access with varying levels of security and
access to court records for the public, attorneys, and
other justice partners.
2. Track cases from filing through disposition via
configurable time standards that enable you to comply
with statutory and local rules.
3. Configure table driven financial assessments and
integrated cashiering for a variety of financial
transactions.
4. Automatically create court generated documents via a
forms engine using Microsoft Word.
5. Track bond, warrant, and protective order statutes on
cases via dynamic and intuitive icons.
6. Utilization of integrated calendaring and scheduling,
including configurable hearing notices and printed
calendars using Microsoft Word.
7. Generate appeal records from imaged documents,
including a configurable index.
Successful implementation of the Odyssey case management
system will allow the District Clerk to accept electronically
filed documents in the near future. Wilson says “Odyssey
is a cost effective tool to increase efficiency and improve
customer service.”
62
Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Expo
63
64
65
the bay area satellite
Brought to you by
Keeping you in orbit with the latest from NASA and everything aerospace
COMSO 2
by J i l l M i c h a e l s
I
n the tradition of Hollywood summer
blockbusters, this month’s column is a sequel,
the second installment of my Cosmonautical
franchise. Cosmo 2 stars Fyodor Yurchikhin,
Alexander Kaleri and Oleg Skripochka.
Back in March, I met Fyodor, before he accepted
his role as one of six current residents aboard the
International Space Station. Fyodor loves to talk. To
my amusement, one of his favorite phrases during our
interview was “Etc., etc., etc.”—Yul Brynner’s famous
line from The King and I. And Fyodor loves orbital
photography. As he was describing his last stint in
orbit as the commander of ISS Expedition 15, the
jovial cosmonaut painted a vivid word picture of his
experience shooting photos through the space station’s
windows.
Fyodor’s most elusive image? “Mount McKinley
in Alaska,” he replied. “It’s very difficult to take this
picture because we never go through Alaska. But I did
it!” he announced proudly. “Because our orbit is 51.6
(degrees). Alaska is too north from us.” He started
laughing. “But I stay. I wait like hunter.”
I pretended to aim a shotgun, quipping: “Like a
gun.”
Fyodor cracked up. “Yes! It’s like gun! Maybe
I take about 100 pictures for McKinley, but two or
three are great.”
Then last month, I introduced myself to
Alexander and Oleg after the Expedition 25 pre-flight
news conference. By coincidence, our round-robin
interviews took place during the same week as the
35th anniversary of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, the
first international manned space flight.
When Oleg entered the conference room for our
sit-down interview, I asked him if he wanted to use
an interpreter. He politely declined, explaining in
English: “This makes it more exciting.”
Since his Soyuz launch in late September will
mark the start of his first space flight, I asked him
to what is he looking forward the most? “With our
experiments we have to observe the surface and
different objects on Earth—some ocean regions and
atmosphere, and especially upper side of atmosphere.
I don’t know how to translate it into English. And
we’ll have to measure the CO2 amount.” He added:
“and something special, just for me? I don’t know. All
Earth is special,” he chuckled.
What would Oleg like to say to children in
Russia and here in the U.S.? “I would say the space
program and space flight are still an exciting event,
very important for our science and for our life too.
Every space flight is a special flight.”
66
I had spoken with Alexander during his
Expedition 8 mission back in January 2004, about
a week after the Spirit rover landed on Mars. When
we finally got to rendezvous in person, last month, I
remarked to him: “Here it is 6 1/2 years later, and the
rovers are still going strong. Will you have any special
thoughts of Mars when you see it from orbit again?”
Through his Russian interpreter, Alexander
replied: “Yes, it’s very shocking, because I thought it
could probably retire by now. And it’s still operating
up there.” He then joked: “I’m still operating too!”
He continued: “We were very excited to hear the
news, and (my crewmate) and I discussed it many
times. And it is interesting to see that it is still there.
However, we did receive some bad news that they lost
navigation with Beagle, so that was happening at the
same time.”
Alexander added: “Mars is a difficult planet, even
though I believe that is the next planet that humanity
will land on. So when I look at Mars during my
flight, I think I will look at it with the hope that some
fruits of my labor will be beneficial to those that will
come after me.”
I looked Alexander in the eye. I told him:
“Spasibo.”
His grin said it all.
Thank you for reading this column. Don’t forget to
check out Bay Area Houston Magazine’s new BayCast,
Bay Area Houston ALIVE, at GoBAHA.com.

this PDF - Independent Bankers Association of Texas

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